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1 Should the drinking age be lowered to 16 in the UK? [Student’s Name] [Course/Class Name & ID] [Submitted to] [Date]

2 Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Strain Theory and Cultural Norms ................................................................................................... 3 Social Learning Theory and Individual Behaviours ........................................................................ 3 Broken Windows Theory and Criminal Behaviour ......................................................................... 4 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 4 References ........................................................................................................................................ 5

3 Introduction Years of disagreement over the legal drinking age have sparked questions about its sociological, cultural, and criminological ramifications ( Sudhinaraset et al., 2016). The issue of whether the drinking age should be decreased to 16 in the UK raises serious concerns about the consequences for youth, public health, and crime rates. This essay examines this subject from a sociological perspective, examining probable effects using criminological and sociological ideas. While supporters claim that decreasing the drinking age to 16 might encourage children to develop responsible drinking habits and a feeling of independence, a sociological study shows that such a shift may have unfavourable social effects, such as rising alcohol-related damages and crime rates. Through the prisms of strain theory, social learning theory, and the shattered windows hypothesis, this essay critically analyses these possible results. Strain Theory and Cultural Norms The strain hypothesis given by Robert K. Merton, when people are unable to accomplish their objectives by appropriate methods, social institutions and cultural norms may result in emotions of frustration and strain ( Agnew, 2017). Using this theory to predict what may happen if the drinking age were dropped, we can expect a rise in alcohol use among 16-year-olds attempting to make the most of their newly-found freedom. This may result from a desire to live up to cultural norms of maturity and peer pressure ( Fontaine, 2019). Problematic drinking habits may develop from the stress brought on by the tension between the increased luxury and the incapacity to make adult decisions ( Atkinson et al., 2023). Additionally, it is essential to consider the possible financial pressure on communities and families. Due to escalating alcohol-related costs and potential health consequences of underage drinking, families may be financially burdened. This pressure can worsen previously existing inequities in lower socioeconomic strata, where few resources are already pushed tight ( Huck et al., 2017). Social Learning Theory and Individual Behaviours According to Albert Bandura's social learning theory, people pick up behaviours via imitation, reinforcement, and observation. Younger people could be exposed to higher alcohol usage if the drinking age is reduced to 16 both in their immediate context and via media depictions. This increased exposure can potentially normalise alcohol use in a younger generation, thus increasing the prevalence of underage drinking ( Yifru, 2021). Furthermore, as older peers and

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4 adults could be more willing to provide it, the possibility of better access to alcohol might make it simpler for children to get it. A lack of practical barriers could result in a more tolerant attitude towards underage drinking, promoting the behaviour ( Akers and Jensen, 2017). This could eventually increase the frequency of alcohol-related occurrences, such as accidents and health problems. Broken Windows Theory and Criminal Behaviour According to the broken windows idea, which was put out by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, outward indications of chaos and neglect might incite criminal activity. By applying this idea to a lower drinking age, we might conclude that lowering the legal drinking age could indicate a lessened focus on policing juvenile alcohol-related behaviour. This perception of leniency could encourage people to participate in riskier and more reckless activities, such as public drunkenness, vandalism, and even violent crimes ( Weisburd et al., 2023). Additionally, reducing the drinking age can make distinguishing between teenage and adult behaviour harder. Because it becomes harder to discern between proper and wrong behaviours when there is no clear line between what is allowed and what is forbidden, this might make it harder for law enforcement to enforce the law. Also, UK Law and NHS as identified in this NHS (2022), says that if the children is under 18 he/she cannot drink but if the child is accompanied by an adult then the child can drink alcohol but in a limited amount. Similarly, NHS also emphasised that children should not drink until the age reaches 15 and it should be supervised at no more than one drink a week. This statement identifies that some guidelines in the UK allows children to have limited amount of drink before even turning to 16. Conclusion In conclusion, this essay concludes that the possibility of decreasing the legal drinking age in the UK to 16 raises several intricate social and criminological issues. Even though supporters claim that such a move might empower young people and promote responsible drinking habits, a deeper look through the lenses of strain theory, social learning theory, and the shattered windows hypothesis points to possible drawbacks. Early alcohol exposure puts demands on the body and might normalise underage drinking, which could adversely affect both the individual and society. Additionally, lowering the drinking age might unintentionally promote various illegal behaviours, complicating law enforcement operations and jeopardising public safety. Given the

5 significance of these possible outcomes, policy choices regarding the legal drinking age should be decided with the greatest caution and by in-depth sociological and criminological research. As a society, one must carefully balance protecting public safety and order while allowing young people some degree of liberty.

6 References Agnew, Robert. "Building on the foundation of general strain theory: Specifying the types of strain most likely to lead to crime and delinquency." In Recent developments in criminological theory , pp. 311-354. Routledge, 2017. Akers, R.L. and Jensen, G.F., 2017. The empirical status of social learning theory of crime and deviance: The past, present, and future. Taking stock , pp.37-76. Atkinson, A. M., Meadows, B. R., & Sumnall, H. R. (2023). ‘You’re in the alcohol Matrix, then you unplug from it, and you’re like ‘Wow’’’: exploring sober women’s management, negotiation and countering of alcohol marketing in the UK. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy , 1-16. Fontaine, A.L., 2019. Integrating general strain theory and the gender role strain paradigm: Initial considerations. Journal of Theoretical & Philosophical Criminology , 11 (3), pp.159-186. Huck, J. L., Spraitz, J. D., Bowers Jr, J. H., & Morris, C. S. (2017). Connecting opportunity and strain to understand deviant behaviour: A test of general strain theory. Deviant behaviour , 38 (9), 1009-1026. NHS (2022). Should my child drink alcohol? [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/childrens-health/should-my-child-drink- alcohol/ [Accessed 17 Aug. 2023]. Sudhinaraset, M., Wigglesworth, C. and Takeuchi, D.T., 2016. Social and cultural contexts of alcohol use: Influences in a social–ecological framework. Alcohol research: current reviews , 38 (1), p.35. Weisburd, D., V. Uding, C., Hinkle, J. C., & Kuen, K. (2023). Broken Windows and Community Social Control: Evidence from a Study of Street Segments. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency , 00224278231168614. Yifru, Yordanos. "Effects of Social Networking Sites Alcohol Advertisement and Ban of alcohol advertisement on Main stream media on Youths Alcohol Drinking Behavior: Evidence from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia." PhD diss., ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY, 2021.

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